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The divine child walks into a Room of Mirrors. Everywhere he looked, he saw his own reflection. The divinity inside him allowed him to create himself using his own reflections. On one mirror, he drew a mustache, on the other a beard. He kept on altering himself by playing with his own images. Finally, he created his own demon by decorating himself as a fiend; thus, stuck inside the Room of Mirrors playing with his own reflections and forgetting the reality. He trapped himself with the other selves that he had created for eternity without gaining realisation - He became what he thought.

Sai Baba of Shirdi says, "Dust if you think, dust you are. God if you think, God you are. Think God. Be God. You are God. Realize it."

Inside the Room of Mirrors, the divine child Baba undergoes four states of consciousness before getting absorbed back into his native state of being unreflected.

When we first witness Baba (played by Rajini) on the screen, he is seen having his eye shut tightly. In this posture, The Waking State, Baba becomes aware of the quotidian - The Outward Knowing - becoming conscious when he opens his eyes (and watches the watching audience).

[The director of the film, Suresh Krisnaa, immediately establishes a direct communication with the viewers, by calling for a Bird's Eye View camera angle for the opening shot, making the audience as the Devine Watcher of the Devine Child.]

Baba enters into the Room of Mirrors, creating himself anew with his own reflection. Even though Baba is a non-believer, his divine knowledge is inborn. Whoever he creates himself to be - a truck driver, a laborer, a leader whose primary activity is to protect, a lover, a son, a friend, an alcoholic, a chain smoker ... etc - Baba got the ability to design his reflection as anything he wishes on the mirror - the divine knowledge cannot be subdued.

Baba enters the second state while lying down on a cart on the roadside. Baba enters into his vast subconscious mind.

[The Cry of Violins is absolutely brilliant. Hats off ARR. The vibration the string instruments bring creates a sort of intervention - something that knocks the doors of the mind. The director, again, goes for a Bird's View camera angle, as though the intervention is happening from above. While showing the experience of Atman (the soul), the director never fails to draw a parallel with the Jivaa (the body) through a sensory organ – Baba’s ears triggers the state. He visually captures the transformation in a series of skillfully angled shots. Hats off Chota K. Naidu]

In this state, the Dreaming State, Baba looks inside himself - Inward Knowing. He confronts with his own wisdom and subtlety which is as big as an elephant. His Jivaa (body) experiences many different levels of existence due to the activity of Maya.

[The director beautifully portrays Pravivikta (subtle) & Taijasa (burning) during Antah Prajnya (Inner Knowing). Baba is in a dream state with his eyes wide open. By invoking his inner knowing, his body reacts with a mysterious hand gesture. Wisdom is blessed on him by a temple elephant. Finally, the burning - he wakes up when the cigarette bud kindles heat around his finger. Hats off V. T. Vijayan]

When Baba ejects himself from the Magic of Maya, he paints a demonic self to his reflection while walking out of Chamundeeswari 's (played by Manisha Koirala) house.

Seeing him turning himself into something that he is not, the Messenger intervenes.

[This is an iconic shot called by the director, a cult scene in its own right, my favourite. This single shot hold volumes of informations. There are tons of cult shots in this film. Hats off Suresh Krisnaa]

The Messenger pulls Baba out of the Room of Mirrors and guides him to experience the third state - Deep Sleep (Sarva Jnya, the Knower of All), a state where underlying ground of consciousness is undistracted.

Baba realizes Karana Sarira (The Causal body) - The innermost body that veils Atman (True Soul). Baba meets Maha Avatar Babaji who is (*beleived to be) the origin and dissolution of created things.

[*Disclaimer : Mappi & Religion, oil and water. No mixing.]

Baba returns. Every instance in his life seems to be a dream when the three states - Outward Knowing, Inward Knowing and Deep Sleep - make him transcends to the fourth and final state - Turiya, Pure Consciousness.

[The Black top resembles that of Kaala's Kurta (Kaala is a forthcoming film directed by Pa. Ranjith starring Rajini in the lead role)]

After few trail and runs, testing his own Self according to the both absolute and relative, Baba experiences the true state of Ananta (infinite) and becomes free from the dualistic experience which results in him smashing the Mirrors in his Mind and permitting himself to walk out of the Room of Mirrors and embrace Vipalka (The Supreme Reality).

Baba knocks down all the Layers of the Mind and becomes Superconscious.

Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
- Amos (Book of Twelve, 3rd Book)

Whenever I look at the above citation, it makes me to think that Politics and Spirituality move concurrently. It forces me to accept that a political party, in a wider sense, is a Religion by itself. Just like the Prophets, the Politicians have people following them waving flags and raising slogans. There is a sort of attraction these religious members (political party workers) attain when they are closer to their Leader and drown inside immense satisfaction when they call themselves belonging to a certain sect (party politics) who don't share a particular or individual view but energize themselves to believe in a standard collectiveness, sometimes communal and other times based on community. [How they attain this commonness rests over a vast area of ideology, thus, shall be left unattended inside this write-up about Baba-The Film.]

'Our journey is just beginning', said Moses, a phrase applicable for a Preacher and a Politician.

Our own Lord Jesus Christ brought a social change when he supported prostitutes and sat with lepers. Our own Messenger Prophet Muhammad insisted that human beings stood radically equal - 'As the teeth in a comb' - overthrowing the Arab tribal bonds. Our own Guru Raghavendra shed upon us the illumination by stating, "Social work done for worthy of the people should also be considered as the Lord’s worship."

All the prophets were a stranger in a foreign land. They possessed distinctive qualities showing divergence in the prevailing inheritance system and established a new line of thoughts that were contrary to the laws and customs of society during the predominant social strata. They held rallies, gathered people for a common cause, led them towards equality, fought for civil rights or raised voice against injustice, racism, materialism, and militarism.

Rabbi Heschel (Abraham Joshua Heschel, 1907-1972), the Jewish theologian, announced that church and synagogue were forbidden as long as African Americans were treated as they were.

Very far from 'Finally', Thomas Merton's (1915-1968), a trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, statement is indeed very political when he registered, "The world is full of great criminals with enormous power, and they are in a death struggle with each other."

There is no thin line between Spirituality and Politics. They both are mingled Spirits.

Just by giving names to the rivers, they are no different. The tiny stream of flowing water joins the mighty ocean, not because it got a name, but it is its true nature. Similarly, a Master or Guru or Saint or Prophet or Messenger or Mystical or Monk or Enlightened One, etc., however different they are addressed, they are the Ones who have unified the Atman and Jivaa into Oneness, and continued living as a Being until their judgment day that occurred according to the Laws of Karma.

Baba is one such Being, who even after realisation continues to be the mantle of purpose.

[The shot size elegantly varies during this scene - the medium shot slowly zooms while sharpening on the main subject (Baba) and the camera motion is halted while shifting the shot into a close-up capturing the facial expressions of Baba]

Baba is considered as a 'Leader of the People' by the members living around a tiny locality. He indulges in a petty quarrel with the son of a Minister, which gets escalated high along the chain of command. Even though the problem is solved amicably, the ego of the affected group intervene in Baba's life twice again, creating a turbulence of change in Baba's materialistic life - One, it takes away his beloved mother from him, Two, it makes him alter his ultimate decision.

After the inconsequential dispute ends, Minister 'Ippo' Ramasamy (played by Riyaz Khan), gaurds his enmity with Baba warm inside his head. During the first encounter with Baba, he accepts defeat by praising Baba before his members, but he also meticulously spins himself like a snake around Baba's feet waiting for the opportunity to inject his venom into Baba's vein.

(Nandri ... Mikka Nandri)

It’s always a wonder how the doors open automatically for the Evil without being knocked - 'Ippo' Ramasamy receives a direct order from the highest in command to take down Baba.

After realisation, Baba has to fight within himself to channelise his actions. It costs him his Uncle's (played by M.N.Nambiar) life to make the right movement between his thought and action. Baba reforms as a Physical Being.

As soon as Baba determines the direction of his thoughts to flow into proper action, he is quickly surrounded by danger just like the rushing grey clouds blanketing the blue sky. Purushottaman (played by Bharathimani), the Leader of the Social System, cunningly manipulates Baba to support him. When Baba refuses, Purushottaman seeks the assistance of 'Guruji' (played by Amrish Puri), who deals with techniques and rituals including meditative practices according to esoteric traditions, to demolish the divine child and consume the mystical power inbuilt in the biological system of Baba.

Sakthi Kodu Song sequence is the most direct appeal made by Rajini through a film. Even though the character Baba, seeks the blessing of the Godess Kalikambal to shatter the Evil that has taken over the world, as Rajini, the actor enters into a monologue conversation with the viewers.

His body language during the entire song suggests many possible components that he efficiently uses to communicate with the viewer. He constantly induces various styles portraying handshakes, salute, waving, facial signals, nods, making a fist and pushing it up in the air, etc., each creating a growth, success and togetherness.

Rajini spreads his arms and walks directly towards the audience inviting everyone for a warm hug.

The director, camera-man, editor have worked out the possible ways to make it look like Rajini is conversing with the audience. The director makes him move through a defined locus, either being closer to the camera or approaching towards the camera. The focus plays a terrific job of blurring the objects denoting God, which are deliberately positioned every time nearer to the screen, further from which Rajini is moving around.

The way they have picturised the fire element represents a situation (read year 2002), where Rajini opts to be a savior and vows to make measures tending to the betterment of the condition of the people. He communicates that without the support from crowd (seated) in front of him, it will become impossible for him to bring the needed change. It is shot in such a way that it’s not a manifestation, but a promise.

During the intro of Rajini, the camera arcs around him. During the song sequence, Rajini circles around the camera making him covering the entire screen. The director is generous in using colours, painting Rajini’s face with tri-colors to punctuate impartiality. During the closing of the song Rajini looks directly above his head while continuing his discourse, placing the audience higher above him.

Rajini relates the You & I factor with an efficient hand gesture pronouncing a sincere and graceful salutation.

Disclaimer: The information shared inside this expository is fictitious, written for entertainment purpose only. They are purely the imagination of the author. Any name does not point to any person living or dead and any resemblance to reality/history is purely coincidental. The author firmly states that there are no unwittingly or carelessly or without any deliberate or malicious intention to outrage the religious feelings of any class while interacting about the cultural system. The author's intention is not to hurt any feeling or provoke any sort of misguided emotions. Keep fiction, a fiction.

Part I of V

About 8500 years ago ...

A Perfect Society

Manu stormed down Mount Meru. He was closely followed by seven men who resembled their master. There was an absurd feeling inside Manu about his own strides. He found himself walking with anger, fear, desperation and urgency; his feet crushing the rocks into sands. Random thoughts rose like ocean waves inside him when he flew into the town he vowed not to step into again. He walked quickly over the dimly lit lane towards a huge building made out of gold and silver. Over the pavement under the shyly burning street lamp, he witnessed a couple having sexual intercourse. They seem not to mind the dog barking beside their cane bed, nor disturbed by a child who sat on the floor beside watching the adults in action. Raising his meditation stick high in the air Manu slapped the naked butt of the man. Manu did not wait to listen to the loud cry of the man, but continued walking cursing under his own breathe - Why can't the King culture his baboons? "Ha", Manu snapped at himself, "He never tried. He ever succeeded."

The soldier entered the large room. He hesitated a bit before announcing to King Rajasimha the arrival of Manu. Rajasimha neither lifted his head, nor uttered any audible words. He just grunted out his disagreement, an order mixed with anger and arrogance. The soldier immediately ran out and informed Manu that the king was busy, so shall not receive him today.

Manu slapped the face of the soldier with his meditation stick and with at most urgency kicked the throne room door with this left leg. Rajasimha, who was being serviced by eight naked women, was at his maximum heights of pleasure when he was disturbed by the noise of the huge door shattering into thousand pieces. He lifted his head and saw Manu approaching him fiercely. The naked ladies around the king stopped working and looked scared at each other. The King ignored the arrival of Manu and forced his eight slaves to continue their awesome service.

"Rajasimha", growled Manu, his tone trembled the roof of the palace, "Behave like a king. Be a King. Your kingdom is in danger. I order you to save your people. Listen to what I have to say and these lands shall be saved."

"What order?" wondered Rajasimha loudly while adjusting his golden threaded loin cloth around his testicles. He got up and lifted the piece of white cloth hanging between his laps, exposing his cojones enveloped inside the loin cloth. Showing all signs of dominance both in action as well as on his face, he spoke to Manu, "This is a free country. Anyone does whatever he prefers to do. You are here because you want yourself in here, isn't it? Who breaks the door of the throne room other than a barbarian entering without the King’s will?"

"Remember", the king continued while circling around Manu, "You were the one who abandoned these lands not happy with my leadership. I still remember you describing me and my people as baboons." Looking at the seven disciples standing behind Manu, Rajasimha snicked, "Now, with a group of monkeys from the mountain, you have broken the same door through which you vowed not to return. Who is uncivilised here? I thought sages were men of their words!"

Manu controlled his anger between his teeth. He knew there was no time to argue. He spoke urgently but firmly, "The anger mouthed waves are going to feast over the land. If you don't do something about it immediately, your dynasty cultivated by well mannered and intelligent ancestors shall see its end due to your incompetence as a ruler. Don't be blinded by lust, greed and arogance. Save yourself. Save your people. Save these lands from the flood."

Rajasimha laughed loud and spoke, "This is the land of Gods built on gold and silver. No flood is going to eat these metals, as you may worry."

Manu without saying another word rushed out of the throne room. He was closely followed by his seven disciples. He sat on the floor outside the King's palace; anger fuming out of him. One of his disciples touched his shoulders and got his fingers burnt. He withdrew his hand quickly and asked, "My lord, what shall convince him to see threat that shall proudly announce its claim over these lands?"

Manu looked around at the orderless society where undisciplined crowd roamed around under the influence of stupefacient. He spoke softly, "What difference will it make to a man with vision and a visionless man inside a lightless room?"

Manu got up quickly and ordered, "All these people are fools, but some have gained the ability to think for themselves. Go immediately and find those. Gather who are willing to build a new world. We need architects, wood cutters, rowers and workers. Those who shall follow you will be saved."

"I am going to build a floating vessel. A large one", Manu asserted pointing at the south sea port, "The waves at the speed of the horses will gallop towards the sky. We will ride over the waves and sail towards the north. We will be prepared."

Manu along with the assembled group of bright people built a large ship. To help distinguish the people assisting him to construct the vessel, he asked his seven disciples to distribute coloured cloth belts to everyone according to the assistance they provided - white for the intelligent architects, red from the muscular rowers, green from the tireless wood-cutters, and black for the labourers who provided food for all.

The flood extinguished its anger over the kingdom. It swept away any visible land drowning the entire empire under the ocean. Manu's ship floated over the water and was forced upwards. Every path the sea water took over the lands, Manu's ship managed to stay afloat and finally when the anger of the waves subdued, Manu's Ship stuck on an unknown land with enormous vegetation.

Manu climbed down the ship and quickly climbed up the nearest hill. He walked enthusiastically as not only his plan had worked, also that, his whole crew had landed safely. From the top of the hill Manu surveyed his new settlement. There were seven rivers flowing across a vast fertile land; the path created by the flood allowed the mother source to travels to her destination, the oceans. "Nature in its own will", Manu smiled to himself.

Manu descended and instructed his seven disciples to write down the instructions on healthy living practices for the survivors to happily lead their day to day life in the new found land.

"We shall no longer address ourselves as Pandya", Manu ordered to his seven disciples, "From now on we call ourselves Pandits. We have to erase our sins committed through arrogance by burying the past. The cursed civilisation never existed. We will abandon speaking our mother tongue, the sweetest language. Sanskrit, a form of sounds that I dreamt while sleeping shall be the language of the Pandits. Announce to these people the new language of the Gods and assure them that they are the gifted ones to wander over these new fertile lands."

Manu walked among the new citizens of his new world who wore coloured dress according to the assistance they provided to the settlement. He admired them being educated with his new principles by his seven disciples.

"My tribe shall grow and make this land a civilised and cultured place", he thought to himself confidently, when he came across a blind and aged man carrying a sleeping new born on his right shoulder. Intruded by the stranger’s aura, Manu enquired about the child's parents to him.

"He is my Father and I am his Son", the aged man replied

He looked straight into the brimming eyes of Manu and said taping the baby's back gently, "What you have accomplished today shall cripple Him someday. Your fixation towards colours shall paint a perfect society, a community built on lies. Let the people be what they are and not what you want them to be".

Saying so, the aged man carrying the infant disappeared into the rejoicing crowd.

"His Kingdom has fallen. His Kingdom has fallen", the innocent kid jumped enthusiastically while running around the blind man. There was no emotion on the aged man's face. While bouncing in joy, the kid hurt his toe ripping off the nail. The happy child fell on his buttocks and started to weep. His guardian seemed disengaged even after hearing the crying child beside him.

His eyes without eyeballs moved to the right. A man was getting down from the golden chariot. Glowing under a dark skin, the man rushed to raise the fallen kid.

He looked at emotionless face of the man beside him. The glowing man smiled at the disoriented man and asked while wiping the tears from the cheeks of the child, "You don't seem to be happy with our victory?"

"That's not victory, My Lord", replied the aged man. His eyes were blank while he spoke. Curious, the glowing man requested the sad man to explain himself.

"Your fascination towards the colours will doom the future of these lands", the man replied while taking back the kid from the glowing man. Placing it on his laps he continued, "You are a good person Lord Ram but this victory is not over the evil. The evil is within, as you may know it very well."

Lord Ram waited without countering the aged man. "You fought for the land. You wanted your empire to grow more. You wished to enhance the methods instructed by Manu. You have adjusted it to your convenience. You sent out for the tribes welcoming them to join you. All you asked to them in return was to obey the laws governed by four colours and give their land to your kingdom in return to live in a perfect society. The contented tribes saw you as their saviour, but did not know that you took their land, all the while growing your empire. Your sweet talks made them think they are free, but they worked hard for you following your laws, so that you can call your society as perfect. They never lived for themselves, not even on the land that rightly belonged to them."

Lord Ram took all the accusations inside his smile. The aged man continued, "Descending from the north, you wish to capture the last piece of land that resisted your governance. Very well knowing that it is the only trace to origin of the humanity that somehow survived the murderous flood, you wanted to be called as the first civilisation by capturing it, thus erasing the past. When its ruler refused to abide, you played with his weakness. You slayed him and became the owner of the entire land."

"How could you say so much? Matters that I myself never realised? How do you know?" Lord Ram questioned genuinely.

The aged man looked at the child who was now fast asleep on his laps. "My father, My Lord", he replied, "He speaks to me in his sleep."

Lord Ram got up and with his head hung low he started to walk to his palace, followed by his golden chariot. He called upon his brother Bharat as soon as he reached the palace.

"Without my will my actions turned to sin", he spoke to Bharat with heavy eyes. "Even with vision, I needed a blind man to bring me on to my path. I am not born to rule these lands. You shall govern them under the guidance I shall pass on to you."

Bharat was shocked to hear his elder brother talking in agony. Before he could deliver his objection, Lord Ram continued, "You will rule these lands under one law - the law of equality."

"Every new born shall receive the same set education and treated same in status, until they prove their worth when they grow up. Accordingly the Empire will place them under white, red, green and black colour jobs. These rankings shall merely be based on Karma, by their actions and not by birth. If they do well they can become someone entirely new. If they show leadership qualities, they shall serve the Empire as secretaries. If they portray strength, they shall become soldiers ready to serve the people. If they are intelligent, they can become merchants attaching the lands as one through their trade. If they are patient, they shall be provided with lands where they will work to feed the whole nation. At no cost, these baselines of colours should be driven by birth. A farmer’s son can become a doctor and a minster son shall work in the house holds."

Saying so, Lord Ram left the palace and never returned. Bharat could only watch his brother disappear beyond the door.

Bharat, the land named after the man who ruled it, flourished. Bharat, the ruler of an emerging empire, introduced several structures within the society, the major one being the laws governing the lands. Free men produced in the lands owned by them, and the government bought all the final products. It then distributed it to the ones in need or used it during famine. The choice to choose the social colour was given back to the infants based on their talents and not by birth.

Bharat stood as an example for a Perfect Society until corruption slowly crept into the veins of the land. The White, the Red, the Green and the Black which stood for equality in Bharat started to see each other as an individual division separated by superiority according to the tasks being carried out by respective groups.

Five versus Hundred

About 5000 years ago …

They battled for land when the final negotiations headed by their uncle Kresna resulted in vain.

"All I ask is a village; each for the five brothers", Kresna had requested and a hundred nods came as disagreement.

In the middle of the battle, Kresna explained his nephew Arjun who had refused to fight his own kith and kin :

When you are born you are a discoverer. You wake up unilluminated as dark as the dirty feet. You are Black.
When you are grown up you are an understander. Education applied with good principles, turns you viridescent. The laps that are as strong as the climbers carry to far lands to gather knowledge. You are Green.
When you are an adult you are stronger. You shine scarlet following the pure colour of the heart under your broad chest. You are Red.
When both your body and mind are magnified you realise. You are blank as you have the answer for existence. You are white.
You are, thus, my child, enlightened.

The words of Kresna cleared the dark clouds roaming in Arjun’s mind and brought him back to his feet. His strong laps supported the weight of his heavy soldier's body. His head became light and his dark visions cleared. With his broad chest he dashed into the war field.

The Five won the battle over the hundred and became the princes of the entire land. They ruled the lands with what their uncle had preached to them. But somewhere in the distant future, certain Pandits will want to achieve the supreme height in the social pyramid overshadowing the Empire itself; the history will be falsely rewritten. The colours governing the society will stumble, and, Pusan, the nourishers of the world who wore black, shall be called Shudras. The definition of a perfect society shall slowly be divided into duties. The initial laws written by Manu about 3500 years ago will be revised by the Pandits.

The wound in the child's leg worsened. The infection spread up to the knee turning the right leg ink blue and making the kid unable to walk. The aged man carried the child in both his arm. Looking at the blind man struggling to carry a heavy child in his arms, Kresna asked him if he could provide any sort of assistance.

"It's not us My Lord", predicted the aged man, "but these lands need your assistance. Time has been seeing that lies have crawled all over crippling the truth. What you stood for shall weigh over the future of these lands. Tricked, people will be tortured. These lands will no more belong to the righteous, but to the ones who have the power to take them by force."

Kresna smiled and spoke gently, "I am aware of it. Be assured, whenever a threat may arise to the owner of the land and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I myself come forth."

Pointing at the sleeping kid, Kresna said, "Manu and then several who had come before me, and when the blind and the sighted walk hand in hand, another shall come. Do your duty. Keep him safe as when I rise HE shall walk again."

Bharat became the land of immeasurable light. Prince Siddha living in any of the three palaces built by his father led a very grand life. Ministers with white turbans saluted him every morning. Soldiers in red uniforms guarded him round the clock. Merchants with green turbans gifted him with fabulous items from around the world. He was always surrounded by shirtless workers providing his any needed support.

Siddha’s four encounters with human life on the lands ruled by his father transformed him into someone else.

Siddha saw a fragile man lying naked on the pavement and his black garment dancing in the breeze beside him. The man was sick and was suffering. Few steps away, he saw a man in green tops selling medicines for a hefty price. He turned to look at the commotion behind him and saw his soldiers in red uniforms driving away few people brutally. Filled with lot of thoughts, the major ones being - Why don’t anyone help each other, at least during the time of need? - Why wealth so important than life? - Why do people treat their fellow being like a savage? - Siddha unknowingly took the route to the jungles impressed deep in his thoughts. Reaching the forest area, he saw a man dressed all white siting with his eyes closed under the shade of a tree. Calmness hit Siddha’s face. The mere presence of the White Sage eased him from his painful thoughts. Siddha turned and rushed back to his Palace.

"Father, I don't understand", he spoke to the king once he reached the palace, "Why is there so much sufferings in our lands, when you claim that our rule has created the perfect society."

"Siddha, my son, you will understand when you take up this throne. The indicator for a perfect society is not the wellbeing of its population. We create laws and rules to govern these lands and none is either below or above this law. One shall produce, another shall sell. One shall protect, and the other shall govern. That is a perfect society when each individual understands and plays to his strength."

"But Father I see poverty; those people being supressed and chased away with nothing to own. How shall they continue to live? Its not they who willingly suffer, but they are made to suffer by the laws that govern these lands, of which they are the owners too."

"Poverty is in their making. The society has given them opportunities and cannot be blamed. Thus the sufferings are their own. It’s Karma. Their actions made them what they are."

"In that case, I shall teach them how to detach themselves from Karma", Siddha said firmly.

Siddha walked out the palace and never returned. He roamed the lands looking for answers. After unfruitful results, he realised that the answer was within him. He sat under a tree with his eyes shut. Blankness overtook his thoughts. His wandering mind settled into calmness. He was able to see even with his eyes shut. He reopened his eyes.

Siddha shared his wisdom to the world. And he was called Buddha since then.

Buddha’s teachings, as bright as his white garment, cleansed the lands. Equality that was covered in debris exploded out into the world, until territories started to expand and new tribes fought with each other over for the lands which rightly did not belong to them.

"I saw you seeing us fleeing from the market place when your soldiers chased us away taking us for beggars", the blind man spoke to Buddha. A teenager with canes under his arms was standing next to him. His right limb was cut off up to the knee. "The law book of Manu focusing on karuṇa (compassion), abhyasa (practice), jnaana (knowledge), and upadesa (teachings), now serve as misguidance to this society", worried the aged man, "as class governs who shall own these lands. The minority are considered unfit."

Buddha fell to his knees before the blind beggar and the handicapped boy. "I cannot set the wrong right. But I shall see that no wrong shall happen again by being a cognizer of the truth and teaching them all correctly. None shall be binded with views, nor shall be blinded to fall in the empty, hallow and false.". His sincere words thundered above, and showered below.

The aged man face widened with a satisfied smile while Buddha got up and opened his umbrella. Buddha walked away taking the blind man and the limping teenager under the shade of his umbrella.

About 2000 years ago ...

Kingdom of Heaven

Constantine was lying on his death bed. One of his trusty entered carrying two fat materials in his hand.

"You were right my lord. He did not die on the cross", his associate spoke softly into his ears that made Constantine shut his eyes tightly. Tears flew down and wetted his pillow made of feathers.

The appointee hesitated and then continued, "The physical existence of a land called Indu across the river Indus is true. Our fore fathers originated from there."

Taking a deep breathe the trustee announced with a heavy heart, "It is His homeland too and He is buried there."

Constantine, the founder of the Church based on the principle of His resurrection, whispered, "This land shall be known as India in our documents. The Church must reach it and Greek must acquire its full control."

"Thoma had already reached the south" interrupted the trustee.

"Thoma’s preaching must be nullified and the gospels destroyed", Constantine closed and reopened his eyes, "Did you find the other material that I believe existed?".

"Yes my lord", saying so Constantine's associate read to him the Laws of Manu.

Constantine spoke softly but firmly, "These lands need a religion. Being separated by different beleif, everyone should be united by this single religion, The Religion of the Church, thus, the Greek shall rule the entire world on the laws of the Church. What I tell you now based on the preaching of Manu shall be its Bible."

The man from Nazareth answered the shepherd boy, "I was born here. I am happy to have reached my motherland".

While addressing the small crowd gathered in front of him, he saw an aged man supporting a young adult on his shoulders. Yeshua walked past his audience to greet the blind man. He helped the old man and his companion to sit on a rock along with him.

"I am just a messenger", the blind man wept when Yeshua made his sit close to him on the platform.

"Very truly I tell you, no master is greater than his servant, nor is a messenger lesser than the one who sent him."

"I am glad that you have finally arrived here", the old man spoke while the teenager slept leaning over his right shoulder, "Mass migration due to several reasons, notably frequent attacks, inequality and famine, have resulted in several dispute. The powerful crush the weak under their feet. The righteous crawl over the land that is owned by the vainqueur who rules them with a new set of laws that favourises his rule."

"Light shall shine out of the darkness making even the blind to see the Light of Knowledge shining in their heart", Yeshua spoke softly assuring the old man, "I have sent my disciples to twelve corners of the world. They will come preaching peace making groups into one by breaking the barrier of the dividing wall", assured Yeshua.

Turning to his audience the man from Nazareth spoke, "If you really keep the royal law found in the Manu Scripture, love your neighbour as yourself. But if you show favouritism, you shall be convicted by the law as lawbreakers. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one."

Years ran like rivers down the steap hill. War on religion took over the world. Every tribe tried to became an empire forcing the weaker ones to follow their faith. A new threat called Colonisation emerged in that chaos over the land. The accusation of lands by the colonial powers using international law pulled the natives far below their own lands.

[Illustration taken from 'Pathan : Path of a Prophet' (a standalone written by mappi - 2017)]

About 500 years ago ...

The Company

The British East India Company arrived in India in 1612. They traded with the territories that were divided into Empires - the Kingdoms of Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Dewas, Amjhera, Ratlam, Sailana, Sitamau, Narshingarh, Jaora, Udaipur, Jhalawar, Kota, Tonk, Baroda. They, then, settled as Rulers by conquering each individual empire and annexing them all into one nation between 1612 and 1947 trying to create a Perfect Society. During the Company's, India, name given the Greek several centuries ago, was commonly called as British India in sea trade routes controlled by The Company and was officially known as Colonial India.

During the Company’s reign, the Imperial names changed several times according to the expansion of Colonial India : East India Company (1612–1757), Company rule in India (1757–1858), British Raj (1858–1947), Princely States (1721–1949) and finally as India after the Partition that happened in 1947.

The main business of the company was forcing the land owners to work for them on the lands owned by them. It decided whom to pay and how much to pay. The owners of the lands worked as salves on their own land. The Company introduced Kangani system that allowed labor migration, thus, the people lost all the records of owning any lands and became permanent workers of The Company.

Exploiting the already present division in the society, The Company started to use it for its own interest. The workers were mercilessly trashed to the sewers of the society making thier life miserable while the other three colours profited from what the blacks produced. Several white turbans joined hands with The Company and using the green shirts to exploit the lands and the red uniforms (British soldiers) abducted the lands by force. They made immense profit. When a worker was not willing to part with his land, he was tied outside his village and beaten to death. His corpse hung for several days on the pole and none, even his family members, were not allowed to approach it. Thus, they terrorised the true owners of the land.

Another main business of The Company was smuggling Opium into the neighbouring country China, disguising it as spice and tea trade. Once produced by farmers under a tiny scale was rapidly converted into a full fledge industry when The Company started to acquire all the lands by force from the farmers. The farmers then worked as salves for the Company to produce Opium. As the business was blooming rapidly, The Company using the Kangani system made the people from the south, notably the Tamils to migrate towards the north to work in the opium fields. To make things easier for them to control the workers, the Company hired a mercenary group from Afghanistan belonging to the Pashtun tribes. They were addressed as Pathans.

Khalilullah Pathan was a ruthless trader. He had no pity, just pride. His whip did the talking. He migrated to India from Afghanistan in 1839 and took care of the entire operation for The Company from Madras Presidency to Calcutta. He also took care of operation along with Masthan Bhai who operated from the Bombay Port and smuggled Malwa Opium and Turkish opium by land route to Calcutta. In Calcutta, the Company auctioned Opium for the rest of the world.

Pathan was very proud of his tribe, thinking how his forefathers had defeated the mighty East India Company. He walked with pride in his green kurta among the British soldiers. His knowledge about his ancestors was vast. He believed that his tribe occupied the northern valley of India. He spoke about his fore fathers who founded Delhi Sultanate to his children - How his they wanted to rule the entire India as a challenge to the defeated of Alexandre the Great. Pathan too wished to become the ruler of these lands. But he also understood that they were defeated during the war on religion and the British were his only chance to quench his thirst by walking over the lands once ruled by his ancestors. He used the same technic as his fore fathers to subdue the people living in India - he terrorised the locals. Pathan was the shadow of fear casted over India.

The Comapny found it difficult to administer a complex land like India. Even after uniting the states, India stuck on to diversity. The same diversity that it used to conquer the entire land, threatened the harmony of the British Raj. The Company found that even when there are identified religions in India, the mass population did not follow any particular religion. The Company invented Hinduism, a name that it gave to the majority of the population following a specific set of principles. The creation of Hinduism did not favour The Company. The Hindu majority started to weigh over the other minorities, notably the Religion of the Church. To divert their uprising, The Company plotted the Hindus against the Muslims.

Events pushed Khalilullah Pathan into a personal turmoil. The questions he never thought before wandered in his mind. On one of his journeys, Khalilullah Pathan came across land grabbing done by The Company. While assisting the British, he observed a dark skinned farmer; the actual owner of the land, been tied up and tortured to make the other land owners to give away their land. The Bristish soldiers supported by the Indian traders and landlords stood and watched the torture show.

Unable to take it anymore, Khalilullah Pathan shed the first tear of the first cry for Independent India.

Hundred Fifty years later, in 1947, India obtained its independence. Following several violent revolutions, a man emerged from the crowd who had united them all to acheive their freedom. Karamchand made them realise that The Company was the stranger in their land, and not vice-versa. He brought a people's movement that threatened The Company’s rule. The highlight of his movement was Ashimsa – avoidance of violence. He said, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blinded", thus leading peaceful protests until The Company closed its shop in India. He took measures to establish equality and to render the lands to its owners.

The lands which were unified under The Company became independent. The first house was gathered and Bhimji walked the stairs of the parliament house when he was questioned by a reporter at the foot of the steps, "Sir, what shall be the prime principle of the new born India?"

"Equality", said Bhimji without thinking, "especially in status, rights, or opportunities. Partiality shall be overridden by egalitarianism. All shall own this land, but none shall be its ruler."

"Do you believe in a Perfect Society", shot another reporter.

"The Company has left now", Bhimji said with a smile, "it’s up to us to be what we want to be. To start with, we have to abolish the class stuggle and establish unity. That can only be achieved through equality. I believe in Navayana, its neither birth nor karma, but means the isolated group have the same respect and status, including civil rights, freedom of speech, property rights and equal access to all social goods and services declared legal by the government."

"What shall be the first step towards equlity?", asked a reported looking at the fat book that Bhimji held in his hand.

"You will know that when I speak my first sentence before the first legislative body of India", saying so Bhimji climbed the stairs and entered the parliament house.

Bhimji stood up upon the invitation of the President of India to read the newly constructed constitution of India. Bhimji looked at everyone present inside the room and spoke in a commanding voice that echoed all over the nation, "Article One: India, that is Bharat, is a Union of States."

Pandit was the first prime minister of India. His family ruled India after him. In the seventy years of Indian independence, the nation grew into a super power. The population dominated by the young and the abundance of fertile lands, including natural resources, made India shoot up the graph of development. But the state of the people worsened as India ballooned up. The downtrodden were exploited massively by the upper hand. Those who migrated during The Company's rule were treated as outsiders within their own country. Strict laws and punishments were casted upon them - a country that shot dead its fellow men. Not only the minority had social right, but also legal rights as they had helped in the development of the respective region. But all their rights were revoked along with respect.

The massacre of the nature slowly started to turn India into a desert. Prosperity and luxury came before humanity. The powerful suppressed the needy. The tribes were chased away from their lands and the trees slaughtered. Only the fit went to school, others worked to earn their bread. They were branded such a way that they wept in the shadows of the society. The leaders were busy hooking each other to remain in power. Corruption did not allow the friendly plans of the government to reach the needy.

A new rule emerged over throwing the Pandit family. They wanted to establish Ram Raj. They wished to cleanse India. Purity and sanity were their principal goals through which they decided to construct a Perfect Society. They believed themselves to be the Prime. Discrimination reached a new high level. Blacks, the working class, were considered as the lowest rung. They were looked up as impurity by the White who considered themselves as the descendants of Lord Ram.

All through this seventy years, the minority suffered silently, waiting patiently for a messiah.

Year 2018

There was commotion at the centre of Dharavi, a slum at the heart of Mumbai. A group of washer men and women were protesting against the government officials who had assembled huge demolishing machines in front of their households. Manu Constructions manager tried to convince the revolters with few legal documents. Upon the instructions from Hari Dada, the founder of Manu Constructions who dreamt to create a perfect society by abolishing the slums, Vishnu tried to explain the legality behind the demolition as a perfect scheme of the government. When the revolters spoke about corruption and power overtaking their social right of ownership of the land, minor violence erupted.

Further away from the protest, a young man with both his legs amputated rested his head on the lap of blind man. Neither the old man nor the sleeping man were disturbed by the noise. The aged man sang softly when the quarrel between the revolters and the authority gained momentum:

It goes like this,
The minor falls the major lift;
If thine is the glory,
Then mine must be the shame.

I should have seen it coming,
It was red behind your eyes;
Winning was easy,
But darkness was the price.

There's a lover in the story,
But the story's still the same;
The story’s told with facts and lies,
There’s truth that lives and truth that dies.

You say I took the name in vain,
I don't even know the name;
It doesn't matter which you heard,
The holy or the broken.

I crossed the line, I was not caught,
I live among you well disguised;
I dug some graves you will never find,
I had a name ... but nevermind.

You want it Darker ... We kill the Flame.

A modern black jeep slowly crawled into the noisy disturbance. Its arrival stunned both the officials and the revolters. Silence creeped uninvited when the jeep halted at the centre.

Haridev Abhayankar, a member of union council of ministers of Lok Sabha, dreams to acquire the lands of Dharavi. His agenda is to chase the Tamil immigrants from the heart of Mumbai, enabling himself to modernise the city under his pet projects 'Digital Dharavi and Pure Mumbai'. He demonstrates the power of power on Tamilians from Tirunelveli living in Dharavi making their lives miserable by grabbing their households in the name of government schemes. One man shall stand between him and his dream. At the blink of white collar power play in its fullest form, the bold disobedience of Karikaalan hauls the dominant authority by shattering the administrative settings and erupt as black smoke of social revolution permitting the weak to retrieve what rightly belongs to them.

Kaala is an important film.

The movie has undertoned 'Rajini Politics' concealed within at many instances throughout its runtime. During the interval block, Kaala, sitting at the centre of the land of Dharavi, introduces his entourage to Hari Dada who had come to pay him a visit. Kaala points to his right introducing his many friends and then, presents his closest associate, Vaaliyappan, standing alone to his left. Anyone interested can look into 'Leftist-Rightist history/ideology in Indian Politics' and sum up the scene. The film is muchly based on confronting with the ideology between the right and the left wing politics without going into radical extremism.

Screenwriting is a procedure to convert the story from paper medium into the visual medium and defining the narrational frame within. There are several methods to deliver a story to the screen. One aspect that I look forward is the opening and closing of the story (First and Last Frames). I feel that this aspect connects the characters/events (or scenes) that are far apart from each other. Such single frames are ignored easily and the art of writing is completely overlooked. For instance, the fire element triggers the meeting and the separation of Zareena and Kaala, both in the past and in the present - a soothing lamp flame turns itself into a monstrous fire.

In Kaala, Ranjith has exhibited his screenwriting skills by recording realistic and effective dialogues, where the first and last lines uttered by characters leaves an immense impression, for eg :

Poda ... Nilam Engal Urimai (Kaala)

Appa out pa ... Appa ulla irru pa (Selvam)

Ranjith has also induced expression to counterpoint the first phrases of Character Selvi. She is introduced asking her daughter-in-law to check the sourness in the dish that is cooking. During her final presence on screen, she holds an expression in her face as though her tongue tastes sour.

It is quite clear that Ranjith wants to bend a well-known belief and turn it into a power of assumption that could straighten the reality. He had juggled with the Epic Ramayana not only during the 'Dharavi Attack - End Of Kaala' episode towards the end, but by even naming one of his characters as Vaali (The King of Kishkindha who was slayed by Lord Ram) and allowing him to be the best friend of Kaala. On the other hand, Hari Dada's another avatar, a ground worker, is named Vishnu. Kaala sings to his wife : 'Nee Potta Kotta Thaandaathavan'. Other subtexts may kindle fire when explored, esp. one the henchman who terrorises Dharavi, but there is much more inside the film Kaala than just what meets the eyes.

But Vishnu's death and Visarjan (immersion of Ganesh Idol in the sea) has nothing to do with 'anti-religious propaganda' as many may consider. There are so many versions as to why the idol of Ganesh is immersed into water bodies. The principle faith is 'removal of obstacles'. The dissolving the idol in water bodies (lakes, well, rivers & sea), after keeping it inside the living area of the house for specific number days, represents the end of problems for the devotee. Water body is believed to be the supreme creation of God that cleanses the evil or purifies the soul permitting it to get back to its destination after the death of its body. So, when Kaala fights Vishnu over the bridge (under the presence of water element) the Visarjan is assosiated along with the 'Fall of Vishnu'.

There is another thread line to this fight sequence. Keeping Buddhism as another subtext, Ranjith treats Kaala as the re-incarnation of Buddha giving Kaala some special powers too - Kaala walks on fire. His dark sun glasses are the meditating eyes of Buddha and Kaala carries an umbrella (Chatra - stands for Protection in Budhism one of the eight symbolisms of Buddhism). Kaala also seems to be spending his time outside the Buddha temple and in the end, a top notch dialogue; the flower vendor says firmly that she saw Kaala at the Buddha temple. But Kaala does not inherit the qualities of Buddha in his manifestation. He is the 'Anger of Buddha', an opposite of his prime. Thus, he roams in black concealing all his anger, while Buddha reflects his calmness in his white robe. Kaala is a messiah for the needy who has appeared in his violent form as the threat is bigger.

The principle characters, Kaala and Hari Dada, are identic. Both are brutal, savage and barbaric. They both have similar family structure including social respect. Even though Hari Dada is shown someone to be crueller than Kaala, Kaala is equally murderous as Hari Dada. Their duologue is scripted excellently. Both are in need, and the duel rests mainly for Power - Power of the People versus Power of the Council. Kaala seeks justice, while Hari Dada is the law.

Kaala is a mystery. The story happens under a year's span, where most of the Indian festivals pass by to register the timeline. Thus, not much of Kaala (his mental and moral qualities, his attitude, etc.,) is explained. Kaala is elaborated through the actions of the other characters. Every character is similar to Kaala, or Kaala is made up of other personalities around him. His four sons are the four pillars of his nature, his thoughts, habitual gesture and behaviour. Kathiravan is an industrialist who takes care family buisness - Wealth. Another is a literate who wants to get out of Dharavi - Knowledge. Selvam is valiant whose physique terrorise the opponent - Endurance. Manikandan is rebellious trying to make Dharavi a special place - Defiance. Holding all these character traits together for Kaala is Selvi - Fullness. Other two personalities who influence Kaala are Zareena (Compassion) and 'Puyal' (Temper), where Kaala does move affairs legally (conditions applied), also questions wrong information firmly. Moulding these distinctive qualities into Kaala is Vaali, the all-knowing mind of Kaala, which is always half-conscious. Thus, Kaala is all of them at some point in his life and to break the mystery of Kaala, all these characters should be read attentively.

Ranjith's screenwriting makes all these fabulous characters look lustrous, and with a right casting, every artists swirls on screen as bright black pearls.

Santosh Narayanan is an invisible colour in the film. His original soundtrack (the variety he scored for Kaala is HipHop) matches the life style of Dharavi as Ranjith wants to project. It speaks the language of the 'Rappers' who circle around during important scenes who are actually the pain and joy of Dharavi. There are four elements in HipHop - Breaking, Emceeing, Graffiti and Turntablism. Santosh Narayanan has used all the core elements of HipHop to make Kaala Album complete, yet very unique. The special themes are constructed for the situations, highlighting the density of the incident; be it for a fight sequence or for a dramatic scene.

Balancing Rajini's presence with the theme of the story has been carried out visually by Sreekar Prasad; the dissolves are perfect, esp. while the flashback that is narrated by several narrators. Yet, some sequences jump like rabbits, and I understand that it was Ranjith's chioce to remove few scenes/dialogues.

After about more than 150 films, I am awed to see directors and camera-man still able to call unique and original shots for Rajini. The camera work during the interval block where Rajini stands showing his back to Hari Dada is attractive, entertaining and intellectually demanding; keeping in mind the visual images potraying this particular encounter between the two principle characters is the heart of the story. The slo-mos rip the nerves off. And Dharavi looks real with effective objects fitted into each frame. Hats off Murali G.

Ranjith's intention is not only to make a 'Rajini Film' or talk about the minority groups or discuss about social inequality and discrimination, but also to register the way of life of a group of people. Art director Ramalingam gives a visual identity to the lifestyle brought to reality by Ranjith. The layout design is cluttered matching the environment of Dharavi, well backed by the production designer of Wunderbar films.

The list of technicians handling various departments is too long and I have a page to write about each of them and their contribution to shape the film Kaala. So to make it short, Danush has assembled a team of smart technicians who are committed and who have deepened expertise in their line of work. Hats off Danush.

Kaala - Theory of Colours

'Kaala Climax' is not only about black, red and blue colours. Nor Kaala is only about black. Kaala concerns red, blue and yellow that constitute true black - Kaala.

Throughout the film, red and blue colours follow Kaala - during the intro scene the kid in focus wears a red & blue football jersey or when Zareena leaves Kaala's house she rides a red scooter and Manikandan opens a blue umbrella when it starts to rain. While red walks the streets, the roofs of Dharavi are blue … etc.

Yellow, as in sunshine, is represented through Zareena. She wears a yellow dress when she meets Kaala at his resident after several years. An excellent job by Anu Varadha, esp., choosing different colours garments for Zareena suiting to the mood of the situation. Anu has entirely designed the costumes for the characters based on the script and not for the artists.

Green, obtained by mixing blue & yellow, is a friendly colour. Valli wears a green Tawiz and is a friend of Kaala who had accompanied him even before they stepped into Dharavi. Selvi stands for orange colour which is made out by mixing 1 portion of red with 5 portions of yellow, thus, making Selvi more generous in showering love towards Kaala and her family. Each character has its own traits of colours and all these colours put together they become black - Kaala.

The climax is based on Kaala unleashing all the colours held within him. Primarily, there is red, there is yellow blown through and then, comes the blue. The arrival of blue is a beauty; kids completely painted in blue rise up. It has to be noted here how Hari Dada behaves while being encirlced by the colours. His expression clearly maintains his dislikeness towards the presence of other colours which are not as pure as white (absence of colour). He seems to be confused while black (Kaala) circles around him. He is lost in the sea of red. And he tries to chase away the blue by spinning the piece of white cloth in his hand. Hats off Ranjith.

In the end, Kaala signals the colours to begin the party by pulling his hands together that looks as though he is painting (touching) the sky and instantly, almost every colour starts to dance in joy (Vanavil Koothu – a lyrical line from the OST). They mix and mingle with each other until 'The Cry of Hari Dada'. Then, all colours are sucked in unity becoming a mighty black - Kaala. The screen fades to black. Again, hats off Ranjith for giving me one of the best and complete 'Rajini Climax'.

Kaala - Dead or Alive

Dharavi is the fortified fort of Kaala. Kaala seldom leaves Dharavi as he is aware that death awaits him outside the blocks. Kaala exits Dharavi, and each time death appoints itself to be present beside Kaala. He goes to meet Zareena and Bheemji gets killed. He walks over the longest flyover of Mumbai (6.5 km) spreading at Santa Cruz Chembur Link Road and slays Vishnu. Following the 'Interrogation Scene', as well as, after he meets Hari Dada at his resident, death marks its stamp around Kaala. 'The Curse of Kaala' is to have death following him as his shadow, which eventually tears apart his heart.

Personally, I conclude that Kaala is alive. When Kaala returns to join the principle group during the opening of the song 'Katravai Patravai', he voluntarily dashes his shoulders with Manikandan, whose expression on the face when turns and notices Kaala made me decide so.

V, the mysterious persona, and Kaala wear a lot of black costumes. Even though the symbolisations of the main character to take up such attire serves different purpose, black is created as a positive expression showing the protagonists violent but also as some virtuous and righteous superheroes rather than a terrorist or rebellion (respectively) in both the works.

The very aspect of the climax being close to my favourite graphic novel attracted me towards the screen by grabbing my fullest attention. Even though both the climaxes of the fictional works function different, the core idea is strikingly similar.

In the graphic novel V is shot and speaks to Evey : The one I waited for has called and now I have not long. First you must discover whose face lies behind the mask, but you must never know my face. That is their task: to rule themselves, their lives and loves and land. Either a rose midst rubble must bloom, or else has bloomed too late.

Kaala says something similar to Zarenna when she pleads to him not to take risk during the one-night stand inside Dharavi - Everyone is Kaala and they shall take care of themselves.

Then, Kaala gets shot.

In both the works, an explosion stamps the end of these characters.

V : Behind this mask there is more than just flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea... and ideas are bulletproof.

Kaala : This Land Is Our Land (speaking about land rights that are a key human rights issue).

The purpose of the mask is to establish equality, making Kaala as its symbol. As is V, Kaala is about everybody, it's not just about one character, but about the people in the society, all the people who suffer discrimination and subdued by their own government. By wearing the mask of Kaala, they become something bigger than the government itself, thus, Kaala becomes a living embodiment of an ideal. This narrative intention intensifies the climax in Kaala.

And both the climax looks extremely different from each other, even though they share a similar impression - An Uprising.